Wellington Hospital is safe for the time being. NHS officials have decided on a temporary closure of nearby Dene Barton due to nursing shortages in community hospitals across Somerset and this means that Wellington is scheduled to stay open for the foreseeable future.

After town councillor Janet Reed raised concerns over the fate of the hospital with local MP Rebecca Pow, Somerset NHS Partnership chief executive Peter Lewis has written to the MP and said:

“As beds at Dene Barton have been closed, Wellington community Hospital provides the nearest hospital for discharge of patients from the Taunton Deane area and this was considered a significant factor in concluding that beds at Wellington should not be closed as part of these temporary measures.”

Overall 222 beds in 13 community hospitals have been consolidated on fewer sites with facilities at Shepton Mallet and Chard also closing temporarily.

Mr Lewis adds that there will be need for some maintenance to bathrooms and plumbing at Wellington Community Hospital in the summer of 2018 but “We would hope to minimise as far as possible any disruption to services in that time.”